Ch 3 Slides Flashcards
The concept that holds that virtually
all adult citizens (felons and undocumented immigrants
are excluded) have the right to vote
Universal suffrage
Laws enacted to deny equal rights to African
Americans
Jim Crow
COURT CASE
Overturned the white primary in 1944
Smith v. Allwright
The practice of allowing only
whites to vote in the Democratic primary
white primary system
African American leaders contended that the white
primary system was in violation of the _______
Amendment
Fifteenth
_____: Texas Democratic party adopted the primary
system to replace the party caucus to choose political
nominees
1905
A tax paid for registering to vote
Poll Tax
Passed into law in 1902
Greatest impact was on the minority community
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Amendment (1964) was added to the U.S. Constitution to ban poll taxes in federal elections
Twenty fourth
After the poll tax decision, ________ courts became more active in regulating state voting requirements
federal
Federal Court also rejected a provision of the Texas constitution
allowing only property owners to vote on bond issues
National act protecting minorities from discrimination in the voting and registration process
Voting Rights Act of 1965
The process of drawing district lines to dilute minority voting strength
Racial gerrymandering
In order to vote you must be at least 18 years old, a U.S.
citizen, and a Texas resident
• Voter must be a resident of their county __ days prior to the election
30
In order to vote you must be at least 18 years old, a U.S.
citizen, and a Texas resident
• Convicted felons are not allowed to vote until ______
after their sentences
Percentage of registered voters who cast
ballots
Turnout
General elections in non presidential years
Off year elections
The ____ of election usually plays an important role in
how many people vote
type
• Presidential races have the highest turnout, then gubernational, and then local elections
The biggest single factor in determining turnout is level of ______
education
believing their votes either do not matter, or do not count
disenfranchised
Lower turnout in minority communities is a product of
several factors
• Persons from disadvantaged socioeconomic groups often have had fewer positive interactions with government
▪ lead to distrust of government in general
Family _______ has an impact on voter participation
tradition
▪ Non voting families produce non voting children
Within the Hispanic community, _____ can be a
barrier to participation
language
The process through which major parties choose their nominees for the general election
Primary election
Voters don’t register as Democrat or Republican in
Texas
• Official party affiliation is not determined until ______
the day of the primary election
Primary elections are held on the first Tuesday of _____
March
Determine who will hold office
General elections
General elections require a ______ of the votes, not
necessarily a majority, to win
plurality
The election for governor and
other executive offices
Gubernatorial elections
An election held to fill a vacancy, ratify a state constitutional amendment, or approve a local bond issue
Special election
